Collating path for flat goods and method for producing such a collating path

ABSTRACT

A collating path for flat goods with: a conveying apparatus, which has, in its longitudinal direction, a plurality of collecting areas, arranged one behind the other, into which the goods are collected and are transported at a conveying speed in a conveying direction; at least one exchangeable feeder station or a plurality of exchangeable feeder stations that keep goods in stock and are arranged along the conveying apparatus in such a way that the goods stocked in the feeder stations can be deposited in the collecting areas; and a control device, which is coupled to the conveying apparatus and the feeder stations so as to control the deposition of the goods from the feeder station into the collecting areas. In order to more flexibly design such a collating path, guaranteeing a compact structure, and to make as simple as possible an equipping of the collating path with feeders and as simple as possible an exchange of feeders, provision is made so that the exchangeable feeder station can be inserted at arbitrary work positions into the collating path and the control device is set up to receive information from which the control device determines the absolute release position of the feeder station or each feeder station along the conveying apparatus at which the individual feeder station releases the goods stocked in it onto the conveying apparatus.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to German Patent Application No. 10 2013 106 807.3 filed 28 Jun. 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure concerns a collating path for flat goods, a method for producing such a collating path, and a method for equipping such a collating path with an exchangeable feeding station.

BACKGROUND

From the state of the art, feeders are known with which flat goods, such as sheets, stacks of sheets, glued or stapled stacks of sheets, envelopes, questionnaire forms, or cards are placed on a collecting or collating path. Such feeders are, for example, known from EP 2 548 826 A, EP 0 813 496 B1, and EP 1 591 388 B1. Such feeders are, for example, used in collating paths for mail items that contain enclosures. The contents of a mail item are collected in collecting areas of the collating path and then sent to an enveloping or packaging device, which sticks the contents of the mail item in a wrapper or packs them with a cover. The contents of the mail items, made up of flat goods, are deposited in the collecting areas of the collating path by one or more such feeders, which are located along the collating path. In particular, if the contents of the mail items are composed of different types of goods, for example, sheets of different formats or sheets and cards, several different feeders are arranged, one behind the other along the collating path, wherein each feeder keeps flat goods in stock and deposits them in the defined collecting areas of the collating path. As a rule, they are kept in stock in specific feeders for the different goods that are collected in the collecting areas of the collating path and form the contents of a mail item, wherein the specific feeders are customized to the kind or the type of the individual goods that are stored therein. Thus, for example, special feeders are available for individual sheets with different formats or for folded sheets or for stapled or glued stacks of sheets or for cards, and so forth. Depending on the composition of the goods to be processed, the collating path is equipped with corresponding feeders, wherein the feeders can be arranged so they can be exchanged in the collating path.

Such a collating path for flat goods with a plurality of feeders is, for example, known from EP 2 103 559-A. This collating path is used to collect printed sheets for intermediate products for the production of bound printed products and comprises several feeder units, arranged one behind the other along a conveying device, for the loading of the conveying device with the printed sheets, wherein each feeder unit can be exchanged and has at least two feeders and can be placed on a lower frame. Each feeder unit is correlated with an interface section formed for providing energy and control. In order to also be able to process printed sheets with a size that deviates from the standard with this collating path, an adapting device is provided, which can be placed on a lower frame and for which purpose has an underside compatible with the lower frame. On the upper side, the adapting device is designed for the fastening of feeders according to an arrangement that deviates from the interface arrangement. In this way, feeders of different types can be inserted into the collating path via the adapting device. However, each feeder can be situated only on certain positions prespecified by a grid along the collating path.

Another collating path with a plurality of feeders arranged one behind the other is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,177,979-B. The feeders can be displaced along a frame of the collating path and can be affixed there in prespecifiable work positions. Via an adjustable coupling device, the feeders are synchronized with the movement of a collecting track with a mechanical coupling. The feeders deposit the goods kept in stock therein, in accordance with the mechanical coupling, on prespecified collecting sites of the collating path.

DE 10 2005 020 591 B3 discloses a unit for the processing of printed products with a basic apparatus that can be built up from several exchangeable individual units (feeders). The basic apparatus thereby consists of a work table with a transport track extending in the longitudinal direction for transporting the printed products. The work table has a guide track on each of its lateral boundary areas that runs to the transport track, and they are arranged parallel to one another and contain carrying arms so as to arrange the individual units on the basic apparatus in a prespecified position along the guide tracks and to fasten them there. The individual units are affixed on the carrying arms for this purpose, and they can be displaced along the guide tracks and can be affixed by locking means on work positions prespecified by a grid. For the affixing of the individual units in the basic apparatus, the carrying arms have locking means that can mesh in locking grooves along the guide tracks, arranged at prespecified intervals. In this way, the individual units can be affixed only at work positions firmly specified by a grid along the collating path.

EP 1 946 249 B1 describes a card disbursement system and a method for operating such a disbursement system, which has a large number of sequentially arranged function modules, wherein each function module is set up for the processing of a specific function in the production of personalized cards. Each function module comprises a communication device and a storage area, in which data for the identity of the individual module are stored. The communication device of each function module can send data to its adjacent modules via a first communication connection, and be received by them. Via a second communication connection, each function module can communicate with a main control device. With the startup of the system, each function module has access to its storage area, so as to determine its own identity. Via a peer-to-peer communication between the individual function modules, each function module can detect its relative position in the sequence of the function modules along the card disbursement system, and via the second communication connection, transmit to the main control device. The main control device recognizes, in this way, the total number of the function modules used in the card disbursement system and their identity or module type and their relative position among one another in the sequence of the module series arranged behind one another along the card disbursement system. With this card disbursement system, the function modules arranged sequentially along the system can also be inserted into the system only at certain work positions specified by a grid, and the control device detects only the type of the individual function models and their relative position in the sequence of the function modules. This limits the flexibility of the system considerably in the sequential arrangement of the function modules.

SUMMARY

Proceeding from this, a goal of the disclosure is to develop a generic collating path for flat goods in such a way that it has a higher flexibility when equipped with feeders. Furthermore, a goal is to develop a generic collating path such that the simplest possible equipping of the collating path and the simplest possible exchanging of feeders and a compact structure of the collating path can be guaranteed.

These goals are attained with a collating path with the features as disclosed herein and a method for producing a collating path as disclosed herein and a method for equipping a collating path as also disclosed herein. Preferred embodiments of the collating path and the method are also disclosed.

The collating path for flat goods in accordance with the disclosure comprises a conveying device which, in its longitudinal direction, has a plurality of sequentially arranged collecting areas, in which the flat goods are collected and transported in a conveying direction at a conveying rate, and at least one exchangeable feeder station that keeps flat goods in stock. Several exchangeable feeder stations can also be situated sequentially along the conveying apparatus in a collating path in accordance with the disclosure. The feeder station, or each feeder station, deposits the goods kept in stock therein into the prespecified collecting areas with the running conveying apparatus. The conveying apparatus and the feeder stations are coupled with at least one control device, so as to control and, in particular, to synchronize the depositing of the goods from the feeder stations in the prespecified collecting areas. In accordance with the disclosure, the exchangeable feeder station(s) can be inserted without a grid at arbitrary work positions into the collating path and the control device is set up to receive information from which the control device determines an absolute release position of the feeder station or of each feeder station along the conveying apparatus at which the individual feeder station releases the goods stocked in it onto the conveying apparatus.

The flexibility during the buildup of the collating path and during the equipping of the collating path with the feeder stations is increased by the gridless arrangement of the feeder stations at arbitrary work positions along the collating path. By transmitting to the control device information from which the control device determines the absolute release positions of the feeder stations along the conveying apparatus, putting together the collating path and equipping it with the exchangeable stations are substantially simplified, since the control device is able to determine, with the transmitted information of the individual feeder stations, their absolute release positions along the conveying apparatus at which the individual feeder station releases the goods stocked in it to the conveying apparatus. From the received data, it is possible for the control device to automatically detect the entire configuration of the collating path and feeder stations inserted therein during the startup of the control system and to undertake the synchronization of the movement course into the feeder stations with the movement of the conveying apparatus. The operator of the collating path need not, in particular, input any more data into the control system while putting together the collating path after the startup of the control system, so as to indicate to the control system the configuration of the collating path and, in particular, the arrangement of the individual feeder stations and their (absolute) release positions along the collating path. The information regarding the configuration of the collating path and the absolute positioning of the individual feeder stations and the detection of the release positions is supplied automatically in the control device by means of the received information regarding the individual feeder stations. It is also possible, however, within the scope of the disclosure, to measure manually or to detect the absolute or the relative position of the individual feeder stations along the collating path and to supply these position data, together with the feeder-specific information, to the control device. The control device can then calculate the (absolute) release position along the collating path from the position data and the feeder-specific information of the individual feeder position and to take it into consideration during the synchronization of the movement course in the feeder stations with the movement of the conveying apparatus.

The information received by the control device appropriately comprises position information regarding the individual feeder stations. This position information can be transmitted to the control device in the form of a position signal detected by the position sensor or as a (digital) information signal of an interface. In addition to the position information, the control device appropriately also receives feeder-specific information regarding the individual feeder stations, such as the length of the feeder station and the position of an insertion site on which the goods leave the individual feeder station upon being deposited on the conveying apparatus. From these data, the control device, in connection with the position information, can then determine the absolute release position of each feeder station along the collating path at which the individual feeder station releases the goods stocked in it upon the conveying apparatus.

In a preferred embodiment example of a collating path in accordance with the disclosure, a position sensor is provided for the detection of the absolute position of each feeder station inserted in the collating path; this sensor detects the absolute position of each feeder station with respect to a reference point of the collating path and transmits the detected position signals to the control device. The control device receives the position signals detected by the position sensor, and determines from them the absolute position of each feeder station along the conveying apparatus with respect to the reference point of the collating path. If feeder-specific information, supplementary to the position information produced by the position sensor, is transmitted to the control device, the control device can also determine from this information the absolute release position of each feeder station along the collating path at which the individual feeder station releases the goods stocked in it onto the conveying apparatus.

In one embodiment example of a collating path in accordance with the disclosure, the collating path comprises a plurality of interfaces that are arranged in a prespecified sequence. Each feeder station that is inserted into the collating path is coupled with one such interface. The interfaces transmit a (digital) information signal to the control device, wherein the information signal preferably contains position information and feeder-specific information. The control device can determine the absolute position of the feeder station coupled with the individual interface from the received information signal of the interfaces. For this purpose, the sequence of the feeder stations in the longitudinal direction of the collating path is appropriately correlated with the sequence of the interfaces—that is, a connection exists between the sequence of the interfaces and the sequential series of the feeder stations along the collating path. In this embodiment example of the collating path in accordance with the disclosure, the feeder stations are arranged without a gap along the collating path, in direct connection with one another.

In addition to the (digital) information signal of the interfaces, which indicates whether and perhaps with which feeder station this interface is coupled, the control device appropriately receives, in this embodiment example, feeder-specific information that, for example, contains the kind or the type of the individual feeder station and/or its configuration data, in particular, its extension in the longitudinal direction of the collating path and the position of an incorporation site. From this feeder-specific information and the received information signals of the interfaces coupled with a feeder station, the control device can determine, from the known correlation between the series of the interfaces and the series of the feeder stations along the collating path, both the absolute position of each feeder station along the conveying apparatus as well as the absolute release position of each feeder station along the conveying apparatus at which the individual feeder station releases the goods stocked in it upon the conveying apparatus.

In a special embodiment variant of this embodiment example of the collating path in accordance with the disclosure, provision can be made so that, in addition to the feeder stations, one or more spacers is/are arranged in the collating path. Each spacer is then either coupled with an adjacent feeder station so as to increase, by the length of the spacer, the extension of this feeder station (virtual) in the length direction of the collating path. The spacer can alternatively also be coupled to an interface so as to occupy this interface and to simulate a (functionless) feeder station in the sequence of the sequential arrangement of the feeder stations. The interface that is coupled with the spacer then transmits an information signal to the control device that indicates the identity of the coupled spacer station and its length (extension in the longitudinal direction of the collating path), so that the control device can determine, from the information signal received by the interface, position information regarding the inserted spacer and its absolute position in the series of the stations.

In a preferred embodiment example of the collating path in accordance with the disclosure, the exchangeable feeder stations can be displaced along a frame of the conveying apparatus and, there, without a grid, can be affixed at arbitrary and freely selectable work positions with the use of determining means. The work position is hereby understood to mean the (absolute) position of the individual feeder station along the collating path in which the feeder station is affixed in the collating path (in particular, on the frame of the conveying apparatus), so as to carry out, in this work position, the work steps assigned to it and so it can deposit the goods stocked in it into the defined collecting sites of the conveying apparatus. The work steps assigned to a feeder station consist thereby, in particular, in the removal of goods from a stack of goods stocked in the feeder station, the supply of removed goods to the conveying apparatus and the depositing of the removed goods at a certain release position in a prespecified collecting area of the conveying apparatus.

In accordance with the disclosure, the control device can determine, from the received position information and the feeder-specific information, the precise and absolute release position of each feeder station at which the individual feeder station releases the goods to the conveying apparatus. The control device can, in this way, synchronize the movement course of each feeder station with the movement of the conveying apparatus so as to ensure a suitable position for the release of the individual goods into the prespecified collecting areas of the conveying apparatus.

In preferred embodiment examples of the collating path in accordance with the disclosure, the conveying apparatus comprises a conveying surface on which the deposited goods (in stacks) are placed, and a plurality of conveying means, which protrude over the conveying surface and which are arranged, at a distance to one another, in the longitudinal direction of the conveying apparatus, and define the collecting areas of the conveying apparatus. The conveying means move at a prespecifiable conveying speed, and in this way, transport the goods that are deposited (in stacks) on the conveying surface in the conveying direction. In addition to the conveying means, stoppers can be provided, which are arranged at a distance to one another in the longitudinal direction and also protrude over the conveying surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages and characteristics of the collating path in accordance with the disclosure and the method in accordance with the disclosure can be deduced from the embodiment examples described in more detail, below, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein the drawings show the following:

FIG. 1: Schematic side view of a collating path in accordance with the disclosure in a first configuration;

FIG. 2: perspective detailed representation of a section of the collating path of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3: side view of the section of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A: side view of a first feeder station for a collating path in accordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 4B: side view of a second feeder station for a collating path in accordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 4C: side view of a first spacer for a feeder station for a collating path in accordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 4D: side view of a second spacer for a feeder station for a collating path in accordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 5A: side view of a first collating path including seven feeder stations and two spacers, in accordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 5B: side view of a second collating path including six feeder stations and a spacer, in accordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 5C: side view of a third collating path including six feeder stations and a variable-length spacer and a spacer with a predefined length, in accordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 6A: schematic side view of a second embodiment of a collating path in accordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 6B: schematic perspective view from below of the collating path shown in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6C: schematic perspective top view of the collating path of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A: schematic representation of a first embodiment of a control device for a collating path in accordance with the disclosure and;

FIG. 7B: schematic representation of a second embodiment of a control device for a collating path in accordance with the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a collating path in accordance with the disclosure in a side view. The depicted collating path comprises a conveying apparatus 2, composed of basic modules M1, M2, and several exchangeable feeder stations 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 d. The plurality of the feeder stations is designated below with reference number 4. The feeder stations 4 keep a stack 1′ of flat goods 1 in stock and are set up for the purpose of removing goods 1 from the stack 1′, transporting them to the conveying apparatus 2, and depositing them on the conveying apparatus 2. The conveying apparatus 2 contains a plurality of defined collecting areas 3, which are arranged sequentially, one behind the other, in the longitudinal direction of the conveying apparatus. The collecting areas 3 are used to collect the goods 1 deposited on the conveying apparatus, wherein the goods are deposited on one another in a stack in these collecting areas. The goods 1 deposited in the defined collecting areas 3 of the conveying apparatus 2 are transported to a starting module 20 by the conveying apparatus 2 at a conveying speed in a conveying direction F. The starting module 20 can be, for example, an enveloping apparatus, in which the goods 1, which are deposited in one of the collecting areas 3, are stuck into an envelope from this collecting area 3 so as to form, for example, a mail item. At the entry side of the conveying apparatus 2, an entry canal 21 can be situated, which can consist of one or more processing modules and in which documents of the mail item can be processed, for example, by printing, folding, creasing, collecting, etc. The documents prepared by the entry canal 21 (for example, cover letters of a mail item) are turned over by the entry canal 21 to the conveying apparatus 2, subsequently following in the conveying direction, wherein the documents are deposited in the collecting sites 3 of the conveying apparatus and are further transported by it in the conveying direction. The feeder stations 4 arranged above the conveying apparatus 2 then deposit the suitable enclosures (goods 1) in the individual collecting sites 3, which are correlated with the documents deposited therein, for example, as an attachment or enclosure.

The feeder stations 4 can be of the same type or of different types and are appropriately adapted to the kind of goods 1 that they stock. Thus, for example, feeder stations 4 of different types can be provided for goods with different sizes or different thicknesses. Flat goods 1 can be individual sheets with different formats and thicknesses or also stapled or bound stacks of sheets or folded sheets. They may also be flat plastic cards, such as credit cards or ID cards, or CDs or DVDs. Different feeder types for the processing of such flat goods are known from the state of the art mentioned at the beginning.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the feeder stations 4 are arranged sequentially in the conveying direction F, one behind the other, and above the conveying apparatus 2, so that the goods 1 stocked in the individual feeder stations 4 can be sequentially deposited (in stacks) on one another in the collecting areas 3 of the conveying apparatus 2.

The conveying apparatus 2 and the feeder stations 4 are coupled with a control device, which is not depicted here graphically. The control device can be a central control or a bus system. FIGS. 7A and 7B show embodiment examples of control devices that can be inserted in the collating path in accordance with the disclosure. The control device controls the depositing of the goods 1 from the individual feeder stations 4 into the collecting areas 3 of the conveying apparatus 2. To this end, the control device synchronizes the movement of the conveying apparatus 2 with the movement of the goods 1 into the feeder stations 4, which are removed there from the stack of goods 1′, transported to the conveying apparatus 2, and there are deposited into the collecting areas 3 with the moving conveying apparatus. This takes place, for example, by the electronic coupling of the drives or by the subsequent regulation of the cycles of the drives.

The feeder stations 4 are arranged in an exchangeable manner in the collating path. For the arranging and fastening of the feeder stations 4 at defined work positions in the collating path, the conveying apparatus 2 has a frame 7. The frame 7 can, for example, comprise a frame with two frame rods, running parallel and at a distance to one another in the longitudinal direction. The feeder stations 4 can be displaced along the frame 7 in the longitudinal direction of the conveying apparatus (that is, parallel to the conveying direction F) and there can be affixed, without a grid, on arbitrary work positions. Fastening means are provided for the affixing of the feeder stations 4 on the frame 7. The fastening means can, for example, be formed by screws, bolts, or clamps, or also by locking or clamping elements.

There is also a spacer 4 x in the collating path in the embodiment example shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the four feeders 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, and 4 d. This spacer 4 x is a nonfunctioning station that merely occupies a free place in the collating path so as to completely fill it with stations over its entire length. The spacer 4 x can thereby be inserted at any arbitrary site, and several spacers can also be used. A spacer 4 y can, for example, be formed in a length-variable manner via an accordion system so as to guarantee that the collating path can be completely occupied with stations over its entire length, independent of the length of the individual inserted stations. The spacers that can be used in the collating path are used for the purpose of completely occupying the station places of the collating path. This ensures that the upper side of the collating path is completely covered over its entire length, which is particularly appropriate for safety reasons, because this prevents an operator from unintentionally reaching into the collating path that is not completely occupied with stations, and injuring himself on the moving conveying apparatus.

In the embodiment example shown in FIG. 1, the conveying apparatus 2 is composed of two basic modules M1 and M2, arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction F. For the modular formation of the conveying apparatus 2, several such basic modules can also be used, or also only one basic module. Each basic module M1, M2 contains a number of interfaces 6. In the embodiment example shown in FIG. 1, each basic module M1, M2 comprises three such interfaces 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, or 6 d, 6 e, and 6 f. The plurality of the interfaces 6, which are designated in the following with reference symbol 6, have a specific (rising) sequence. The interfaces 6 are appropriately digital interfaces. They can thereby by cable-bound or wireless interfaces, such as a Bluetooth or an infrared interface.

Each feeder station 4 is equipped with a feeder interface 5 a, 5 b, 5 c, 5 d, which are compatible with the (digital) interfaces 6. The feeder interfaces 5 and the interfaces 6 are appropriately of the same type. The feeder interfaces 5 are coupled with the interfaces 6 in such a manner that each of the feeder interfaces 5 is connected to one of the interfaces 6. The coupling of the feeder interfaces 5 with the interfaces 6 is used for the communication between the feeder stations 4 and the control device, which is coupled with the interfaces 6 via communication connections. The feeder stations 4 can also be supplied with energy via the coupling of the feeder interfaces 5 with the interfaces 6.

The connection between a feeder interface 5 to one of the interfaces 6 (for example, the feeder interface 5 a to the interface 6 a) can be, depending on the interface type, wired by means of a connecting cable or wireless via a wireless communication connection. In the embodiment example shown in FIG. 1, the feeder interface 5 a, coordinated with the first feeder 4 a, is connected to the interface 6 a via a connecting cable 13. In a corresponding manner, the feeder interface 5 b, coordinated with the second feeder 4 b, is connected to the interface 6 b, the interface 5 c, coordinated with the third feeder 4 c, to the interface 6 c, and the interface 5 d, coordinated with the fourth feeder 4 d, to the interface 6 d. The interface 5 x, coordinated with the spacer 4 x, is accordingly connected to the interface 6 e. The last interface 6 f is free. The sequence of the interfaces 6 is thereby correlated with the sequence of the feeder stations 4 along the collating path in such a manner that the first feeder station 4 a is coupled to the first interface 6 a, the second feeder station 4 b to the second interface 6 b, and so forth. It is also possible thereby to leave out an interface, for example, interface 6 b, in the coupling of the feeder interfaces 5 to the interfaces 6, so that, for example, the second feeder station 4 b is coupled to the third interface 6 c. However, a rising correlation of the series of the feeder stations 4 is to be maintained thereby with the sequence of the interfaces 6 (so that “crosswise connections” are ruled out).

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the feeder stations 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 d are arranged along the collating path, one behind the other, in direct connection with one another—that is, without a gap between adjacent feeder stations. Also, the spacer 4 x, which is situated on the inlet side in the collating path, is directly adjacent to the neighboring feeder stations 4 d without an interval. The first feeder station 4 a, which is situated on the outlet side in the collating path, is on the outlet side (that is, on the end of the collating path, which is adjacent to the outlet module 20), adjacent to a stop 14. The stop 14 defines a reference point R of the conveying apparatus 2.

Each feeder station 4 appropriately comprises, although not inevitably, a feeder control, which is not depicted here, with an internal data storage unit that contains the identity of the individual feeder station and other feeder-specific information. The feeder-specific information can be, for example, data regarding the type and the functionality of the individual feeder station 4 and its configuration data, in particular its length (extension of the feeder station in the longitudinal direction of the collating path). This feeder-specific information is transmitted via the interface connection between the feeder interfaces 5 and the interfaces 6. The interfaces 6 send the feeder-specific information and a position information to the control device. The position information is thereby produced from the sequence of interfaces 6 and the (cross-free) correlation of this sequence with the sequence of the feeder stations 4 along the collating path. The control device is set up for the reception of the position information and the feeder-specific information and, from the received information, can determine the absolute position of each feeder station 4 along the conveying apparatus 2. The position information transmitted by each occupied interface 6 to the control device contains the indication that the individual interface 6 is coupled to a feeder interface 5 and a relative position, which is produced from the position of the individual interface 6 in the series of the interfaces 6. From the position information of the occupied interfaces 6, the control device can first detect the series of the feeder stations 4 along the collating path (and thus, the positions of the feeder stations 4 relative to one another) Taking into consideration the feeder-specific information continually received from the control device that, in particular, contains the length of the individual feeder stations 4, the control device can also determine the absolute position of each feeder station 4 along the conveying apparatus 2. The absolute position of each feeder station 4 is thereby determined with respect to the reference point R of the conveying apparatus 2 from the relative position and the length of the individual feeder station 4 and under the assumption that all feeder stations 4 are arranged along the collating path in direction connection to another and without a gap.

The transmission of the feeder-specific information of each feeder station 4 to the correlated interface 6 can also take place in another manner. Thus, for example, each feeder station 4 can be provided with a label, which contains a code (for example, a bar code or a QR code), in which the feeder-specific data are contained. The operator of the collating path can read out the codes with the feeder-specific information regarding each feeder station 4 with a suitable reading device (for example, a bar code reader or a QR code reader) and transmit the read-out data to the interface 6 in correlation with the individual feeder station 4. The interface 6 then transmits this feeder-specific information correlated with the feeder 4, together with the position information to the control device, so that the control device can determine, in turn, the absolute position of each feeder station 4 along the collating path (which corresponds to the individual work position of the feeder station) from the position information and the feeder-specific information.

The feeder-specific information of the individual feeder stations 4 can also be transmitted by means of an RFID tag to the correlated interface 6.

The structure of the release device 15 of the individual feeder stations 4 can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The release device 15 of each feeder station 4 has two surrounding bands 16 in the embodiment example shown here graphically; they are conducted around rollers 17. The goods 1, individually removed from the stack of goods 1′ that is kept in stock in the individual feeder station 4, are conducted through between the surrounding bands 16 and, in this way, transported in the direction of the conveying apparatus 2 and are there deposited in stacks on one another in the defined collecting areas 3. The site at which the goods 1 leave the release device 15 of the individual feeder station 4 determines a release position 18. This release position 18 can, for example, be defined by the position of the rear edge or the front edge of the goods 1 assumed by the rear or the front edge when the goods 1 leave the release device 15. Alternative to the bands 16 shown here graphically, the release device 15 can also comprise suction belts or roller pairs, in order to convey the goods 1, removed from the stack of goods 1′, at a feeding site 18′ or the release position 18.

Two different types of feeder stations 4 in a side view are shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. In the feeder type shown in FIG. 4A, the insertion site 18′ lies within the length extension L of the feeder station in the length direction of the collating path (that is, along the conveying direction F). The insertion site 18′ is hereby understood to mean the site at which the goods leave the feeder station so as to be deposited on the conveying apparatus underneath. In the feeder type shown in FIG. 4B, the insertion site 18′, on the other hand, lies outside the extension L of the feeder in the longitudinal direction of the collating path. The individual insertion site 18′ of the individual feeders is clearly determined with respect to a defined reference point on the individual feeder, for example, the front edge V. The distance A between the reference point V and the insertion site 18′ is thus a feeder-specific magnitude. This feeder-specific magnitude is preferably transmitted, together with the position information, to the control device. The control device can then determine, with the received position information and the feeder-specific information regarding the distance A of the insertion 18′ with respect to the reference point Vote absolute release position 18 of the individual feeder 4 along the collating path, and with respect to the reference point R of the conveying apparatus 2. The release position 18 is understood to mean the absolute position (with respect to the reference point R) in the longitudinal direction of the collating path at which the individual feeder station 4 releases goods 1 onto the conveying apparatus 2. The absolute value of the release positions 18 of the individual feeder stations 4 can thus be taken into consideration during the synchronization of the movement of the goods into the feeder stations 4 with the conveying apparatus 2, so as to ensure a position-suitable release of the goods 1 from the feeder stations 4 into the collecting areas 3 of the conveying apparatus.

FIGS. 4C and 4D show two embodiment examples of spacers 4 x and 4 y. The spacer 4 x shown in FIG. 4C is a spacer with a fixed length L. The spacer shown in FIG. 4D is a variable-length spacer with a basic length L0, which can be extended via an accordion system by a length x, wherein x is variable. The length L of the shown spacer thereby corresponds to the extension of the spacers 4 x or 4 y in the longitudinal direction of the collating path.

The structure of the conveying apparatus 2 can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The conveying apparatus 2 comprises a conveying surface 8 on which the goods 1 are deposited, in stacks on one another into the defined collecting areas 3 of the conveying apparatus 2, and several conveying means 9 and 11 (pins), which protrude over the conveying surface 8 and which are arranged, in the longitudinal direction, at a distance from one another. The conveying means 9, 11 are moved by tension elements, for example, by driven bands 10, on which the conveying means are fastened, in the conveying direction F at a conveying speed in order to transport the goods 1 deposited into the collecting areas 3. In the embodiment example shown, the conveying apparatus 2 contains several groups of conveying means, arranged in the longitudinal direction at a distance from one another, with two conveying means pairs 9, 11 with an outside conveying means pair 9 and an inside conveying means pair 11, which are arranged transverse to the conveying direction next to one another, and are moved at the same speed in the conveying direction. Alternative to this arrangement, which is shown graphically, each group of conveying means can also contain only one single conveying means or more than two conveying means pairs. It is also possible to replace the conveying means pairs 9, 11 of a group with a conveying beam or a conveying rail that extends transverse to the conveying direction F.

Other possible configurations of a collating path in accordance with the disclosure are shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C. In the embodiment example of 5A, for example, seven different feeder stations 4 a, 4 b, . . . 4 g and a variable-length spacer 4 x and a spacer 4 y with a prespecified length are arranged along the collating path. The conveying apparatus 2 is composed of three modules together, M1, M2, and M3, placed in the conveying direction F, one behind the other, wherein each module has three interfaces 6 (the module M1 contains, for example, the interfaces 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, and 6 d). The feeder interfaces 5 a, 5 b, . . . 5 f, correlated with the feeder stations 4 a, 4 b, . . . 4 f are thereby connected to the interfaces 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, 6 e, 6 f in rising sequence and correlation, that is, the feeder interface 5 a is coupled to interface 6 a; the feeder interface 5 b is coupled to interface 6 b, and so forth, and the feeder interface 5 f is coupled to the interface 6 f. The interface 6 g is coupled to the spacer interface 5 y of the spacer 4 y, and the interface 6 i is coupled to the spacer interface 5 x of the spacer 4 x. The interface 6 h, lying between them, is connected to the feeder interface 5 g of the feeder station 4 g. Thus, in this embodiment example, all interfaces 6 are occupied and connected either to a feeder interface 5 or to a spacer interface (5 x, 5 y).

In the embodiment example of FIG. 5B, six different feeder stations 4 a, 4 b, . . . 4 f, and a variable-length spacer 4 x are arranged along the collating path. The structure of the conveying apparatus 2 corresponds to that of FIG. 5A. The feeder interfaces 5 a, 5 b, . . . 5 f, correlated with the feeder stations 4 a, 4 b, . . . 4 f, are thereby connected to the interfaces 6 a, 6 c, 6 d, 6 e, and 6 f in rising series and correlation, that is, the feeder interface 5 a is coupled to the interface 6 a; the feeder interface 5 b is coupled to the interface 6 c, and so forth; and the feeder interface 5 f is coupled to the interface 6 h. The interfaces 6 b and 6 g are unoccupied, that is, not coupled to a feeder interface 5. The interface 6 i is coupled to the spacer interface 5 x of the spacer 4 x. Thus, in this embodiment example, not all interfaces 6 are occupied. However, there is also a correlation here between the series of the occupied interfaces 6 a, 6 c, 6 d, 6 e, 6 f, and 6 h and the series of the feeder stations 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 d, 4 e, and 4 f, which are coupled with these interfaces in such a manner that there are no cross-wise connections between a feeder station 4 and the interfaces 6 present—that is, the rising series of the feeder stations 4 along the collating path correlate with the steadily rising series of the occupied interfaces 6 (interfaces 6 a, 6 c, 6 d, 6 e, 6 f, 6 h, 6 i).

FIG. 5C shows an embodiment example equivalent to FIG. 5B, wherein in the embodiment example of FIG. 5C, the interfaces 6 b and 6 g are unoccupied. The interface 6 i is connected to the spacer interface 5 x of a variable-length spacer 4 x. The space interface 5 y of the spacer 4 y is coupled, in the embodiment example of FIG. 5 c, to the feeder interface 5 d of the feeder station 4 d, which is in turn connected to the interface 6 e. The coupling of the spacer interface 5 y of the spacer 4 y to the feeder interface 5 d thereby simulates a (virtual) enlargement of the length (extension in the longitudinal direction of the collating path) of the feeder station 4 d by the prespecified length of the spacer 4 y. The feeder 5 d transmits, to the interface 6 e, feeder-specific information regarding the feeder station 4 d, wherein, as length of the feeder station 4 d, the (virtual) total length is indicated, which results from the actual length of the feeder station 4 d and the length of the spacer 4 y coupled thereto.

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C schematically show a second embodiment of a collating path in accordance with the disclosure. In this embodiment, the position information regarding the individual feeder station 4 is determined by a position sensor 12 and is transmitted to the control device in the form of a position signal. The position sensor 12 comprises for this purpose a plurality of first sensor elements 12 a, which are arranged on the underside of each feeder station 4, and a second sensor element 12 b, which is arranged so it can move along the collating path. The sensor elements 12 a emit a signal, which is detected by the movable sensor element 12 b. The sensor 12 can be, for example, an optical sensor system. The sensor elements 12 a then emit, for example, a light ray, which is detected by the second sensor element 12 b, designed as a photosensitive element. By moving the second sensor element 12 b along the collating path, the sensor 12 can detect the absolute positions (work positions) of the individual feeder stations 4 a, 4 b, 4 c and transmit them to the control device in the form of position information.

The sensor 12 can, alternatively, also be an acoustic or a touch-sensitive sensor. With a touch-sensitive sensor, the fixed sensor elements 12 a, which are arranged firmly on each feeder station 4, are designed as a flag or finger, and the movable sensor element 12 b is designed as a mechanical feeler that detects a sensor signal when it goes past such a feeler. Alternatively, the position information regarding each feeder station 4 can also be detected by means of a measurement scale located along the collating path, which can be read by cameras that are situated at each feeder station.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show two embodiment examples of control devices that can be inserted in a collating path in accordance with the disclosure. The control device shown in FIG. 7A contains a central fire unit Z, which is connected to control units of the module M1, the feeder stations 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 d, and the outlet module 20. The control units of the modules (in the depicted embodiment example, module M1 of the conveying apparatus 2), the feeder stations 4, and the outlet module 20 thereby form node points of a bus control. As a supplement to the embodiment example of a control device, shown here in FIG. 7A, other modules (M2, M3) of the conveying apparatus 2, other control units of feeder stations 4, and also other control units of additional modules (such as of the entry canal 21) are also connected there to the central control unit Z.

Another embodiment example of a control device for a collating path in accordance with the disclosure is shown in FIG. 7B. In contrast to the embodiment example of FIG. 7A, a central control unit is not contained there. Instead, the control units of the modules M1, M2 of the conveying apparatus 2 and the control unit of the outlet module 20 are coupled to one another via a bus system on one control plane, wherein the control units of the modules M1 and M2 and of the outlet module 20 are on equal footing with one another. The central control functions are thereby prespecified by one of the control units, for example, by the control unit of the outlet module 20. This control unit controls, for example, the synchronization of the movement of the feeder stations 4 with the movement of the conveying apparatus 2 and specifies, in particular, the cycle signals for the deposition of goods into the collecting sites 3 of the conveying apparatus 2. The control units of the feeder stations 4 are coupled, via a bus system, to the control units of the modules M1 and M2 of the conveying apparatus 2. Appropriately, the control units of the feeder stations 4 are thereby connected to the control unit of the corresponding module M1 or M2, into which the individual feeder station is inserted. Thus, in the embodiment example shown in FIG. 7B, for example, the control unit of the feeder station 4 b is coupled to the control unit of the module M1 and the control units of the feeder stations 4 a, 4 b, and 4 c are connected to the control unit of the module M2, corresponding to the arrangement of the feeder stations 4 a-4 d and the modules M1, M2, as is shown in FIG. 1.

The disclosure is not limited to the embodiment examples shown here graphically. Possible modifications and supplements of the described embodiment example lie within the scope of protection of the disclosure claimed in the patent claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Collating path for flat goods comprising: a conveying apparatus, which, in a longitudinal direction, has a plurality of collecting areas, which are arranged one behind the other, into which the goods are collected and are transported at a conveying speed in a conveying direction; at least one exchangeable feeder station or a plurality of exchangeable feeder stations that stock goods and are arranged along the conveying apparatus in such a way that the goods stocked in the feeder stations can be deposited in the collecting areas; and a control device, which is coupled to the conveying apparatus and the feeder stations in order to control the deposition of the goods from the feeder stations into the collecting areas; wherein the exchangeable feeder stations can be inserted on arbitrary work positions into the collating path and the control device determines the absolute release position of the feeder station or of each feeder station along the conveying apparatus at which the individual feeder station releases the goods stocked in it onto the conveying apparatus.
 2. Method for producing a collating path for flat goods, which comprises a conveying apparatus that has, in a longitudinal direction, a plurality of collecting areas arranged one behind the other, into which the goods are collected and transported at a conveying speed in a conveying direction, with at least one exchangeable feeder station or a plurality of exchangeable feeder stations that keep goods in stock and are arranged along the conveying apparatus in such a manner that the goods stocked in the feeder stations can be deposited into the collecting areas, wherein the exchangeable feeder stations are coupled to a control device that is coupled with the conveying apparatus so as to control the deposition of the goods from the feeder stations into the collecting areas, wherein the exchangeable feeder station can be inserted at arbitrary work positions into the collating path and the control device receives information from which it determines the absolute release position of the individual feeder stations along the conveying apparatus at which the individual feeder station releases the goods stocked in it onto the conveying apparatus.
 3. Collating path according to claim 1, wherein the information received by the control device contains position information in the form of a position signal detected by a position sensor or in the form of a digital information signal of an interface, from which the control device determines the absolute position of the feeder station or of each feeder station.
 4. Collating path according to claim 1, wherein several feeder stations, one behind another along the collating path, are arranged directly following one another without a gap.
 5. Collating path according to claim 4, wherein, in addition to the feeder stations, spacers, which are either coupled with an adjacent feeder station or on an interface, can be arranged in the collating path.
 6. Collating path according to claim 1, wherein the control device determines the absolute position of each feeder station along the conveying apparatus, with respect to a reference point, from the received information, in particular the position information of the feeder stations.
 7. Collating path according to claim 1, wherein the information received from the control device comprises position information and feeder-specific information regarding each exchangeable feeder station, wherein the feeder-specific information contains data regarding the length of the individual feeder station and the position of an insertion site of the individual feeder station and optional additional data regarding the kind or the type of the feeder station and/or goods contained therein.
 8. Collating path according to claim 1, wherein the control device synchronizes, with consideration to the determined release position, the release of the goods from each feeder station onto the conveying apparatus with the movement of the conveying apparatus in such a way that the released goods are deposited into the collecting areas of the conveying apparatus.
 9. Collating path according to claim 1, wherein the feeder stations are arranged so they can be displaced along a frame of the conveying apparatus and, can be affixed there by affixing means on arbitrary work positions and/or can be coupled by means of interfaces to the control device for the data transmission and, in particular, for the sending of position information.
 10. Collating path according to claim 1, wherein the collating path comprises a plurality of interfaces, which are arranged in a prespecified sequence, preferably along the frame of the conveying apparatus in the longitudinal direction at a distance from one another.
 11. Collating path according to claim 10, wherein each feeder station is coupled to one of the interfaces, wherein the sequence of the feeder stations correlates with the sequence of the interfaces in the longitudinal direction of the collating path.
 12. Collating path according to claim 1, wherein the feeder stations comprise a position sensor element, with which the absolute position of the individual feeder station is detected along the conveying apparatus with respect to a reference point, and is transmitted to the control device as position information.
 13. Collating path according to claim 1, wherein the conveying apparatus comprises a conveying surface and at least one tension element, circulating at the conveying speed, with a plurality of conveying means protruding over the conveying surface, which are arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the conveying apparatus, wherein conveying means, adjacent in the longitudinal direction, define a collecting area.
 14. Method for the equipping of a collating path for flat goods with an exchangeable feeder station that keeps the flat goods in stock for deposition into collecting areas of the collating path, with the following steps: insertion of an exchangeable feeder station into the collating path at an arbitrary work position; transmission of information, which is composed of position information and feeder-specific information regarding the inserted feeder station, to a control device of the collating path; determination of the work position of the inserted feeder station in the control device from the transmitted information as the absolute position of the inserted feeder station in the longitudinal direction of the collating path.
 15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the control device determines an absolute release position at which the individual feeder station releases the goods stocked in it onto the collating path from the transmitted position information and the feeder-specific information for each feeder station.
 16. Method according to claim 15, wherein the control device, with consideration to the determined release position, synchronizes the release of the goods from each feeder station onto the collating path with the movement of the collating path in such a manner that the released goods are deposited at defined collecting areas of the collating path.
 17. Collating method according to claim 2, wherein the information received by the control device contains position information in the form of a position signal detected by a position sensor or in the form of a digital information signal of an interface, from which the control device determines the absolute position of the feeder station or of each feeder station.
 18. Collating method according to claim 2, wherein several feeder stations, one behind another along the collating path, are arranged directly following one another without a gap.
 19. Collating method according to claim 18, wherein, in addition to the feeder stations, spacers, which are either coupled with an adjacent feeder station or on an interface, can be arranged in the collating path.
 20. Collating method according to claim 2, wherein the control device determines the absolute position of each feeder station along the conveying apparatus, with respect to a reference point, from the received information, in particular the position information of the feeder stations. 